Tree guides
Who owns the tree? Check the trunk
Branches over your lawn do not prove ownership. Check the trunk and legal property line before planning work.
Start with the property line
Street trees can be close to a front yard, and a trunk may cross a private boundary. Public, private and boundary trees can follow different rules.
The City’s Tree Protection Bylaw is specifically aimed at trees growing on land owned or controlled by Calgary. The bylaw prohibits residents from cutting, removing, moving or pruning City trees without permission and tells residents to contact 311 if ownership is uncertain.
All City street trees are protected, while private trees 30 cm DBH or larger are protected under the private-tree rules. Toronto’s application guidance says the applicant is responsible for determining property boundaries and ownership.
Vancouver regulates qualifying private trees and separately protects boulevard trees. Its permit application also requires consent where a tree straddles a property line.
Ottawa’s bylaw has separate rules and compensation for municipal trees and protected private trees. Its reporting requirements explicitly record ownership, including boundary and adjacent trees.
The city portal warns that owners may not trim or fell trees grown on public property, including the public strip between the property line and curb or sidewalk. Private-tree permits are handled separately through the borough process.
Boundary trees need another check
- A boundary trunk can involve co-ownership and private-law rights as well as municipal rules.
- Vancouver asks for written consent from the other owner for a straddling tree.
- Ottawa’s full Tree Information Report requires boundary-tree confirmation and consent where jointly owned trees are affected.
How to confirm ownership
- Do not use the fence as proof of the legal property line.
- Check the survey or municipal mapping if available.
- For boulevard/street trees, ask the city or 311 before arranging work.
- If the trunk appears to cross a private boundary, get the survey and neighbour-consent issue resolved before removal.
- Keep the ownership evidence with the permit file.
This ownership check is especially important before construction, because protection zones for adjacent or public trees can extend onto the project site even when the trunk is not on the property.
Official sources
Sources were re-checked for this guide on September 29, 2026. Municipal bylaws, fees, exemptions and development conditions can change. Use the linked municipality for the current rule before work begins.
Independent information, not legal or arboricultural advice. Ownership, site conditions and professional assessments can change the answer.